Daimler delivers its first all-electric trucks in Europe

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DAIMLER has announced the delivery of the first units of its all-electric trucks to the European market.

Among the first customers for the German vehicle manufacturer's Fuso eCanter was express delivery service DHL, which said it would use its six vehicles to navigate Berlin's innercity traffic.

The keys to eight other lighweight trucks were handed over on Thursday to German logistics and transport firms DB Schenker, Rhenus and Dachser.

The delivery is another step in the global race to mass produce the first generation of "green trucks."

Tesla last month unveiled an all electric semi-truck that it billed as quicker and more economical than today's diesel-powered trucks.

German carmaker Daimler on Thursday delivered its first fully electric lorries to companies in Europe. /AFP Photo

"With the Fuso eCanter our customers now operate not only quietly and without locally emitted CO2, they also save money on operating costs," said Marc Llistosella, head of Daimler Trucks Asia.

"This is the future of urban distribution transport."

With a load-bearing capacity of 4.5 tons, the eCanter is equipped with six batteries and has a range of 100 kilometers, the Mercedes Benz parent company said.

Package-shipping giant UPS has put eCanter trucks on the road in the United States, while in Japan convenience-store chain Seven-Eleven and Yamato Transport will each operate 25 of the trucks, according to Daimler.

Large-scale production of the fully electric, zero-emissions truck is set to begin in 2019.

The Tesla truck can travel 800 kilometers between charges. Production however is not set to start until 2019, with the first deliveries slated for 2020.

Tesla's new electric semi-truck unveiled during a presentation in Hawthorne, California on November 16. /Reuters Photo

Volkswagen, Nikola and Einride are also among the pioneers in developing electric truck prototypes, some equipped with autonomous driving functions and futuristic designs.

Daimler did not disclose the price of its eCanter, but said the vehicle offered "savings up to 1,000 euros (about 1,181 US dollars) per 10,000 kilometers on operating costs in comparison with conventional trucks.

Models destined for European and US clients will be produced in Tramagal, Portugal.

Source(s): AFP